Casting apparatus



E. E. NOVOTNY.

CASTING APPARATUS.

APPLI'CAUON FILED JUNE 1. 1911.

Pa'nted Nov. 2, 1920.

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CASTING APPARATUS. A-PPLICATxoN HLEDJUNE1,1917.

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CASTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION r|LEn1uNE1.1s1z.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

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CASTING APPARATUS. APPLICATION HLEDJUN; 1, 1911.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

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CASTING APPARATUS;

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I, L91?.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

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CASTING APPARATUS. y' AsPPLICA'l'IN FILED HJNE I. 1911.

- Patented Nov. 2, 192.0.

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EMIL E. NOVOTNY, 0F RIVERSIDE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO J'. STOGDELL STOKES, OF

MOORESTOWN, NEW JERSEY.

CASTING APPARATUS.

Specification OLetters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

Application led .Tune 1, 1917. Serial No. 172,193.

'a citizen of the United States, residing at Riverside, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Casting i-Xpparatus, of which the following is a specification.

rl`his invention relates to casting boxes or molding apparatus through the agency of which an article may beY rapidly, conveniently and economically molded or cast under heat and pressure.

In the present instance I have shown my invention as particularly adapted for the casting` or molding of matrices and printing plates made therefrom but I wish it to be understood that this is merely by way of illustration, as the invention is not limited in its useful application to this particular purpose, but may be employed for the molding or casting of other articles, or employed in any connection wherein its use as amolding apparatus may be found desirable or advantageous. there I have herein used the term casting box I wish .it to be understood in its broad acceptation as includingi` an apparatus or vstructure wherein articles may be molded. formed, shaped or cast.

(')ne of the objects of .the present invention is the provision of a casting box wherein the means employed for heating purposes are so located as to provide an elticient heating zone relatively near to the article being molded or cast, so that not only is there economy in heat application to such article` but the latter through the medium of the heat so applied may be rapidly brought to a state suitable for molding under pressure, thus increasing the per diem prmhiction of the apparatus by lessening the time necessary to mold the .individual article.

AIt is also my purpose to provide a casting box wherein a cooling agent such' as water may be conveniently employed for the purpose of cooling the article after it has been. molded under heat and pressure. This cooling agent is applied in such manner that the casting box may be rapidly cooled.. inasmuch as there is no great. bulli of metal between the coolingagent admitted to the press platens and the pressing faces of such platens, as is commonly l the oase with the ordinary Water-cooled" press. 'Ihus l obviate the expense and delay incident to waiting for the press to cool,

and I also avoid the employment of separate cooling apparatus which is lsometimes used 1n preference to wasting time while waiting for articles to cool in the'ordinary water-cooled press.

It is also my purpose to provide a casting box wherein provision is made for electrically heating the platens or press surfaces of the same, the arrangement being such that these p'latens may be readily heated to the necessary temperature to insure the accurate 'molding oi' casting of the article. I

Furthermore, it is my purpose to provide` a casting box which'is so constructed that in the process of its maiiufacture the, necessity of a great. amount of boring, drilling and grinding and machining the same, or portions thereof', is avoided, as in some lcases the box is in the nature of av molded vinclusion in the body structure of the box certain elements which tend to increase the heat conductivity or heat application of the box. V

I also aim to provide a casting box which will embody the desired features of simplicity` efficiency, strength and durability and which is capable of being employed for the accurate and economical molding of the articles for which it is adapted.

Wit-h the above recited objects and others of a similar nature in view my .invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts set forth in and falling within the scope of the. appended claims.

In the accompanyine' drawings,

Figure l is a vertica cross sectional view taken through a preferred form of casting` -with the matrix-supporting bed plate omitted to show the construction and location of the electric kheating element in this lower section. v

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3--3 lof Fig. 2. l

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional' view taken through a modified form of casting box, in this case the box sections being composed of metal.

Fig. 5 is an vend view 'of the top section of the casting box shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 isa top plan viewthereof. Fig. 7 isfa view similar to thatof Fig. 4,y of another modified form of casting' box.

Fig. Sisl an end view of the upper section ofthe casting box shown in'Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of such upper section.

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view taken through another form of casting box and showing a modified manner of cooling the box sections.

Fig. 11 is an end view of the lower section of the casting box shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the lower section of the casting box of Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a cross sectional view of a modied form of casting box adapted particularly for the casting of semi-cylindrical or curved articles.

Fig. 14 is a plan View of thecasting Vbox shown in Fig. 13.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, and particularly to the form of casting box shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the letter A indicates the to or cover section of the casting box while t e botton r S will beseenbyrcference to Fig;,1, the matrix M may be clamped on the bed of the section B by means of suitable clamping `bars C, gripping the marginal edges .of the matrix, and from this matrix the plate F, preferably of .a plastic material is intended to be molded, suitable bosses or projections p, being formed on the back of the printing plate for the purpose of obtaining registration of the plate on the press, as hereinafter described, these bosses being made by the sockets c, of the core plate D, the latter being interposed between the cover and bed sections of the casting box and operating las hereinafter'describe-d. As the cover section A and the bed section B of the box are similar in construction, or duplicates vone of the other, a description of one will suffice. Each section comprises a molded body of hardened plastic material, such as a phenolic resin,or phenolic condensation product indicated by the numeral 1, and made of a desired size and shape. During the mold ing of this plastic body 1, there is embedded in the same parallel vertically disposed reinforcing bars 2, preferably of metal, such ask steel or the like, these bars having inturned marginal flanges for the purpose of anchoring or hooking the plastic material.

las in the present case, the box section is approximately squarel or rectangular in form, there are four of these angle irons making, if desired, a continuous frame and constituting reinforcing and strengtheningborder members forthe block of plastic material. In the molding ofthe plastic material suitable core pieces are .employed to mold slots or channels 6, adjacent a face of the box section. In the case of the box section B, these space slots or channels 6 1re located near the top face of the section, while in the case of the cover section A of the box, these channels or slots are near the bottom face of the section. The purpose of these slots is to receive or accommodate the heating bars or strips 7, of the heating element 8, as shown in Fig. 2, this heating element being in the nature of a grid, in the sense that spaced bars Z are connected or joined toa plate 9, which lies inthe cutaway section or shoulder 10 of the plastic body 1. At the time of molding each section, a metallic late 11 is employed', and suchl plate has is opposite edges grooved as at 12 to anchor the material of the body l 1, as shown at 13. In addition, during the molding operation, metallic strips or plates 14,y which form the bottom walls of the grooves 6, are embedded in the plastic material, the opposite longitudinal edges of these plates being grooved as at 15 for the purpose of anchoring the plates or strips in the plastic material. These strips or plates 14 willtherefore contact with or support the bars of the heating element, and will also act as conductor plates for the cooling agent when the casting box is being cooled as hereinafter described.

' For the purpose of cooling the box I am providing suitable piping indicated at 16, this pipi-ng being bent back and forth to form a coil, as shown in Fig. 2, the parallel sections of the coilbeing properly spaced land lying directly beneath and in Contact the block of'plastic material l, during the molding of the latter and the Water inlet 0f the coil is shown at 17 While the outlet is shown at 18. Thus when desired, water may be admitted to the coil and, circulating therethrough, tend to cool the plates 14, and V consequentl the heating element Contactin With the p atesk as .hereinbefore describe The result is that as the heating element maythus be rapidly cooled, and the plates 11, and the core plate D, as Well as the matrix and article imposed thereonwill have the temperature thereof lowered to a pointl to permit the separation and the'removal of the article being molded.

The core plate D, 4as shovvn in Fig. 1 comprises a metallic frame, embracing the body of plastic -material 20, which may be of a phenolic substance if desired. In this body of plasticmaterial 20, I preferably embed small portions of metallic material 2l which may be in the nature of borings,

filings, metallic granules, or the like, to increase the heat conductivity ivhen the core plate is in molding position and heat is' -fore tending to quickly heat the platev material to the proper temperature for molding.

By reference to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the core plate D is provided with small spaced sockets or depressions c, and as the core plate, in operation rests directly upon the plate blank being molded, when pressure is applied the material at the back of the printing plate P being made will be forced into these sockets ort depressions thereby forming the spaced bosses vya. on the back of the printin plate.

If desired, the c amping Vbar C may beprovided with knifelike edges 23, for shear- .mg or trimming the side edges of the plate P during the molding operation, the surplus material While in its plastic state passing through the small openings 24 leading to grooves or gutters 25, in the clamping bars and from which grooves or gutters the material may escape through the passages 26. This constitutes a simple arrangement l for trimming the plate and removing the surplus plastic material. 4

, The electric conductors for theelectric heating grid or element are shown at .27 and 28, these being merely conventionally illustrated, as the electric connections for the grid or heating element may be arranged to .throughthe grid, heating the same. asis suit-the particular conditions under which the box is to be used. It will be understood that the electric heating element itself may be of any suitable form and shape, and I have illustrated herein merely by way ofillustration one form of element adapted for the particular box shown and described.

Referring to Fig. 2, wherein the casting box -is shown with the matrix supporting bed plate omitted, it'will be seen that the electric grid or heating element 8 is shown as inserted in operative position in the casting box with the arms or bars Tof the grid lying in the slots 6 of the castingbox section, these arms extending substantially throughout the length of the slots or channels. This grid of course has connected therewith the electric conductors 27 and 28, and when current is switched on it passes usual in appliances of this kind. In Fig. Q, the conductor 27 is indicated as a'pcsitive conductor while Q8 is' the negative conductor, but, of course, as above stated the electric connections tothe grid or heating element are simply conventionally shown'. The heating element may be Wired in any well known manner-'asis usual with` electric heating coils, grids, plates and the like.

From-the above-description. taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the pre ferred form of casting box shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive will be readily understood. Nhen it is desired to mold an article, such for instance as a printing plate P, the ma-` trix M is positioned on the bed plate 1l of the lower section B of the box, and the core plate D having been properly positioned to locate the bosses p in predetermined places i015 on the back of the plate, the top section .4 of the casting box is closed or placed in posi l tion. Heat is now applied to the heating elements. of the top and bottom sections of the casting box by closing the electric circuit or current being applied from any suitable source. l

lVhenthis takes place, the plates 1l will be rapidly heated by the electric heating elements lying thereagainst and this heat 1'15 Will be transmitted in the case of thebottom .section of the casting box through the matrix to the printing plate P, and in the case of the top section of the casting box through the core plate to such plate ,Thus the printing plate will be thoroughly;subjected to heating action and will be rapidly reduced to a state when it may bemolded, with the finest detail, against the matrix, pressure at the Sametime being exercised by platens of a suitable press for the purpose4 Y of closing the casting box to the dcgreexpermitted by the clamping bars C, which act as bearers to limit the downward or clos ing movement of the core plate against the lonnitudinaily]D and transversely.

plate being molded. Then desired` after molding under heat and pressure, the easting box .11iay"be"cooled by cutting` oli the current or opening thel electra: circuit. and by admittingwater through the inlet l. to the`v VCooling coil, the I'ater .circulating through this coil tendingto rapidly cool the casting; box and matrixand plate therein as previousbv described.

In the ease ofthe casting box shownin Figs. i to i inclusive, it will be noted that itis composed ot a body ot,` plastic material reinforced and strengthened by metallie members which act in some instances as heat conductors and in some instances as heat radiating or cooling elements and Vfurthermore it willbe notedlthat the means for cooling` the east-ing box and its contents are embedded in the box sections during the making); ot the latter. Ot course the eleetrie heating element or grid may be placed in and removed troni the box asdesired, beingmerelvv slipped into and outot the grooves or slots (i formed during; the making` of the castingl box sections p i v In Figs. hi. 5 and G I have shown a slightly modified torni ot,the invention. In this case the cover and bed sections :i1 and l* oi? the casting: box are formed ot east met-al` such as steel, anddurinnI the formation of these box sections cooling;` coils such as are shown at Qi) and slots or channels S0, are

`molded inthe box sections` the pipinn` or molino` coil 29 being ot course for the water` while the slots BOare intended to receive the heat-ine` element as deseribed tor the structure shown in Fins. 'loto 3` The eore plate IV -is also ot metaland may be provided with screws Si. the shanks 32 ot which will torni threaded sockets in the bosses 3S, molded on the bacleoiE the plate il being made on the matrix M1. Ot course suitable clamping` bearer bars 35 are (-mployed between the core plate and the bottom section Bl 'of the' box. The upper section is eonneeted with the bottom sectioniil through the side iangre. Sti bolted as at 3T to the top section and having an open slot 88 at its lower end tor the slotting` ot the bolt shank 230,' threaded inthe lower section ot the easting box. a wing nut. 40 beine` employed rior detaehably fastening; the flange to the lower section :ofl the castingbox. The operation ot this box is substantially the saine as that heretofore described. e c

In Figs. T, S and 9 I have shown a tnrther .modified torni ot casting box. In this` in stance the upper or rover section A2 `and the bed or lower section B? ot the box are `machined from blocks or plates ot steel,

cored outior bored to provide connecting` water passagesor channels 4L whieh extend Two ot these channels may be connected with the water inlet ii ie 42 and the water outlet )i Je iii and the ends of the other bores or chan nels ma)Y be elosed with suitable plugs .as shown at il. ln this instance when the water is admitted it will circulate through the cored lmssageways or channels and tend to rapidly eool the box sections. ltlach section ot the box is also cored orout to provide slots 45 for the reception ot' the heating` element and these grooves or slots 45 are Covered by heat conducting*.plates 4G. fastened in position by bolts 47. The, core plate as shown at D is similar to the core plate shown at l)1 in Fig. i, and this casting box is likewise provided with the clamping bearer bars to to eonline and trim the 1naterial ot the plate I. resting on the matrix M This form ot casting box is also opeated in a suitable hydraulic pressy as described for the forms of casting: box heretofore mentioned. p

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. l() to i2 inclusive, the upper casting` box member A* and the lower eastingrbox member'li, are also vpreferably made ot machined metal, such as steel, and in this instance rows of longitudinally extended spaced water channels 5() all of relatively larne size are cored or eut in the body ot the box sections a and o3. In the present instance each'o'li these channels 50, is shown as approximately rectangular in the eross section, and each of such channels at one side is eut through the tace ot the block ot metal. The open sides ot' the channels thus formed, and indicated at 5l` are eovered or closed by paekiim` sheets 52 ot angr suitable material such as asbestos yor the like, and these packing sheets in turn are covered or Lliaced with steel plates 53 fastened by bolts 5i to the blocks otmetal constitutim` the body portions ot the box seetions. The, inner vportions of ot each of the channels o() terminates in the slot 5b which is adapted to receive the plate or strip of the heatingelement or grid and it will be observed that such heating' element when arranged in the slot maybe brought into direct contact with the cooling` agrent. such as ater admitted to the channels 50, The water may1 be admitted to these channels through an inlet pipe 5T and may then pass out through an outlet pipe 58. Ot' lcourse each box seetion is provided with` an inlet pipe and outlet pipe. In order to permit all ot the channels of each existing box seetionto eom- Amunicatel` and thereby provide for the c proper distribution of the water, transverse slots 59 are eut in the partition walls 60, separat-ine,` theV channels 50, and these transh verse slots 59 thus provide means tor permitting the water to flow fromv one channel to another. In this modified form ot casting' box a cored plate I)3 is 'also employed for operating` upon the plate P3, the matrix of such plate being shown at M3. The clamping bars C3 are also employed for confining the iiow of the plate material and for limiting the closing of the casting box and trimming the edges of the plate as heretofore described for other forms. The usual heating element 8 heretofore described in detail is also employed in connection with this type of casting box. It will be noted that this modified form of box composed as it is of metal may be readily lheated by the electric heating element 8 and may be quickly cooled inasmuch as a large area is provided for the distribution of the water in the box sections and furthermore, the Water may be brought directly into Contact with the various sections of the heating element.

4 casting box which may be used in the formation of articles, such as curved or semi-' cylindrical plates. This form of box is built up of plastic material suitably hardened and, reinforced at desired points with appropri? ate substances, such as sections or pieces of metal. to be'electrically heated, and to be cooled by the circulation of water.

Referring to said Figs. 13 and 14:, the letter A* indicates the top section ot' the casting box which comprises a cover section 59aL of plastic material reinforced by ianged metal plates 60a, and bythe vertical metal plates 61, and the horizontal plate 62. A threaded socket 63 may be formed in this section A, l'or the purpose of bolting the same to the top platen of a suitable press (not shown). The lower portion of this top section A4 is in the nature of a semi-cylindrical body of molded plasticmaterial shown at 65 in which I embed the cooling coils 66, a curved approximately semi-cylindrical plate 67 enveloping this plastic section 65, and resting against the pipe sections of the coils 66, the ends of this curved plate 67 being embedded as at 68 in the plastic material of the cover portion. A second curved or semi-cylindrical plate 69 is arranged outside of andl in spaced relation to the curved plate 67 and separated therefrom by spaced metallic ribs 70, so that slots 71are formed for the insertion of properly shapedheating element or elements. The heating element employed is in the nature of an electric grid similar to that heretofore described for the other forms of casting box except that the members thereof are properly curved to permit of their insertion in the slots 71. The core plate for this curved box is shown at Di and is of course semi-cylindrical in form,

being provided with outturned iianges 72 which rest on the bearer bars 73, the latter carrying clamping strips 74, for engaging the edges of the matrix and abutting against the ends of the plate. In Fig. 18 I have not shown the matrix or plate, as these are simply curvedfto conform to the shape of the This form of box is also intended l tended to rest upon the saddle molding sections of the box but it will be understood that they occupy the space X, formed between the curved core plate and the curved bed plate 75 of the lower section B4 of the box. In addition to this bed late' 75 this lower section B4 comprises 4a ody of plastic material shown at 76 the lsides of which are reinforced and confined by vertical flange plate l77, while the bottom of the qilastic body is provided with a curved metallic base plate 78. Contacting with the bottom face of the bed plate 75 is a curved metallic plate `79, embedded at its ends as at 80 in the plastic material and this plate vis spaced apart from the second curved plate 81, by means of ribs 82 also of metal so that In Figs. 13 and 14 I have shown the slots 83 are formed for the reception of the heating element or elements for the lower section of the box. Pipe sections 84 consti- 'tuting the cooling coil and adapted to be supplied with water, are embedded in the body of plastic material between the curved plate 83 and the metallic base plate 78. This bottomsection B4 of the castiIg box is inwhich may be bolted as at 85 to the bottom platens or bed of a suitable press (not shown) and this saddle is also preferably in the nature of a body of plastic material 86, having flanged metallic side plates 87 and the metallic base plate 88. The plastic materia-l of this saddle E may further be reinforced by suitable means, such as by the metallic bars 89, embedded therein.

The operation of this form of casting box is substantially the same as that described for the other forms shown herein, except that the saddle for the bottom section of the box, as well as the upper section of the box are intended to be permanently secured to the bottom and top platens respectively of a suitable press. type of casting box is also electrically heated by an electric heating element and is cooled by the admission of a cooling agent, such as water, to the cooling coils. 0f course the plate produced by this box will be semicylindrical as is desired for use on the form cylinder of a rotary press.

It will further be noted that I have provided casting boxes for the making of either -flat or curved plates, and which boxes may be rapidly and economically heated and cooled at desired times, thereby greatly increasing the output of the apparatus and consequently attaining a saving of time and labor and expense in the production of the molded articles. Y

While I have herein shown and describe certain preferred embodiments of the invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to all oi the details of construction'herein set forth by Way of illustration, as modification and variation may be made without departing from the spirit It will'be noted that this l of the invention or exceeding the scope ot' thel appended claims.

What l claim is:

l. In a casting box a pair of companion members,l each including` a heating section, a removable heater for each heating` section and means for cooling each heating` section` a clampV for holding an article upon one of such members, and a core plate interposed between the companion members.

2. A casting box including a bodyv portion of hard and set plastic material, a metallic heater therefor comprising a platelike heating section, a removable heating element positioned in a channel in the body portion and in contact with the plate-like heating section for heating the latter, and means for cooling the plate-like heating section. y A casting box comprising a body portion including a heating section composed of a metallic plate-like member, a removable electric heating grid located within the body portion in contact with the platelike member to heat the latter, and means Jfor cooling the plate-like member.

4. In a casting box, a body portion co'mposed ol' hard and set plastic material pro- 'vided with metallic reinforcements, a platelike heating sect-ion for the body portion, said body portion having a channel therein adjacent the heating section, a removable heating element positioned in said channel in contact with the heating section, and a conducting pipe positioned in the body por tion adjacentV the heating element for conducting a cooling fluid to and through the body portion to cool the heating section thereof.

5. In a casting box,4 a body portion including a heating plate forming one face of the body portion, a removable heating member located within thel body portion and bearing against the plate, a strip member bearingagainst the opposite face of the heating member, and a pipe located within the bodyV portion adjacent the strip and adapted to have a cooling fluid circulate therethrough for cooling purposes.

6. A casting box comprising two com panion members, each comprising a body portion made from hard and set plastic material` and having a heating element inserted therein and having a conduit embedded therein adjacent the heating element for the passage of a cooling fluid, Vand a core plate interposed between the two companion members.

7. A casting box comprising a top sectionv and a bottom section having correspondingly curved walls, a curved core plate associated with the sections, a clamping member for clamping a curved matrix in position in the casting box, a removable electric heater for heating the casting box, and fluid conduits embedded in the casting box sections Jfor the circulation of a cooling fluid.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

EMIL E. NOVOTNY. 

